Old School Friday: Howard University’s First Commencement Exercises

Howard University, under the administration of President Patton, is rapidly improving. She had, on the 13th inst., Class Day exercises for the first time in her existence. This certainly speaks well for the institution, and also reflects a good deal of credit on the class of ’81. The exercises were unexceptionably fine. The class consists of seven, representing Pennsylvania, Missouri, South Carolina, Connecticut and Washington, D.C. The young men seem to be full of zeal and energy; their aim is “onward.” As they have equipped themselves so nobly, may it be their highest ambition to alleviate the condition of the race with which they are identified.